Fire activity was low in 2021 due to a lack of prolonged hot and dry conditions.
Nationally the area burnt was small. The total area burnt was 22 Mha, 36% more than the previous year but 50% below the 2000–2020 average.
Areas burnt in 2021
Fire activity was well below average in northern Australia and across most of the country.
Relatively high fire activity was recorded for the western regions of Victoria and NSW associated with intentional burning on agricultural land in autumn 2021.
National minimum live fuel moisture content
Total fire carbon emissions were well below average and the lowest since 2010. Fire emissions were 67 Mt carbon, 51% below the 2000–2020 average and 17% less than in the previous year.
National Carbon emissions from fire
